Interlock mechanism for valves of multicompartment tanks



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,700,76i

A. DAVIS, JR

INTERLOGK MECHANfSM FOR VALVES 0F MULTICOMPARTMENT TANKS Filed Sept. 19, 1927 '4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A TTORIVE Y A. DAVIS, JR

INTERLOCK MECHANISM FOR VALVES OF MULTICOMPARTMENT TANKS Filed Sept. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR M m ATTORNEY Feb, 5, 1929. momma A. DAVIS, JR

INTERLOCK MECHANISM FOR VALVES OF MUL'IICOMPARTMENT TANKS Filed Sept. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet Illl llll

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IIVVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb, 5, 1929 A. DAVIS, JR

INTERLOCK MECHANISM FOR VALVES 0F MULTICOMPAR'I MENT TANKS Filed Sept. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,4 TTOR/VE Y Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTINE DAVIS, 33., OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

INTERLOCK MECHANISM FOR VALVES OI! MULTIGOMPARTMENT TANKS.

Application filed September The invention relates to multi-compartment tanks and more particularly to truck or vehicle tanks such as are used for transport-- ing and making deliveries? of gasoline or other liquids. The tanks in question are divided by partitions into a plurality of separate compartments, or are otherwise so designed as to comprise a number of individual liquid-holding chambers of suitable known capacity.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide simple, safe and convenient means.

making it impossible to draw or deliver liquid, or for liquid to have exit, from more than one compartment at a time;

A further object is to provide simple, safe and convenient means for preventing intercommunication between any two or more compartments, the outlets or outlet pipes of which are manifolded for any reason.

In the particular embodiment illustrated and specifically claimed herein there is a multi-compartment tank, with outlet pipes leading from the several compartments and provided in their outer ortions with valves aving members adapte to be operated by a separate or detachable handle, and selective shutter or obstructor means are provided for preventing application of an operating handle to more than one of these members at a time. The invention is particularly suitable for such a case, but it will be evident that the general plan and principle of a selective shutter or, obstructor means may be applied in connection with valves, however situated, which normally prevent outflow or delivery from the several compartments, that the members operatively connected with the sev-. eral alves need not necessarily be-immediately associated therewith, that means other than a detachable handle may be employed for operating the valve, and that .the partlculardform of selective obstructor may be' var1e In one of the outlets are connected by a manifold, and in such an instance the invention prevents any intercommunication between the .compartments or chambers, preventing, for\ example, liquid from a full or partly full compartment passing into an empty or less full compartforms of the invention the 19, 1927. Serial No. 220,374.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the rear half, more or less, of a multi-compartment truck tank and its mounting, illustrating an embodiment of the invention in which the delivery outlets from the compartments are not manifolded, a portion of the tank being broken out; s

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation illustrating an embodiment in which the outlets are manifolded, the outline of part of the tank being indicated;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view, the plane of the section passing between the tank and its mounting; e

I Fig. 4 is a view looking from the row of faucets or valves and the shutter device, the shaft of this device being in secw tion a, front at Fi 5, 6 and'7 are similar views, show- Figs. 11 and 12 are elevationalviews of a form of detachable wrench handle which may be employed. Y

The truck tank 2, a portion of which is illustrated in Fig. 1,- is divided by suitable partitions into a plurality of separate compartments 3. The drawings lllustrate a mechanism designed for a three-compartment tank, but the invention is obviously not limited to the number of compartments or chambers. The tank is mounted in a suitable manner on cradle bolsters 4 carried by longitudinal sills 5, the whole being mounted in an approved manner on the chassis of the vehicle. At the rear end of the tank there may be a customary box 6 for holdin buckets, wrenches and other equipment. ustomary running-boards or can racks 7 are,mounted on the projecting ends of the bolsters alongside the lower portion of the tank.-

Eachof the compartments has an outlet opening 8, and from these openings separate pipe outlets 9 extend rearward beneath the tank. Beneath, the rear portion of the tank, or beneath the box 6, these conduits are preferably turned laterally and pass through openings in one of the sills 5, and these portions 10 of the pipes are equipped with a row of faucets 11, which are disposed and pro tected beneath the overhang of the bolsters loo 4 and the running-boards or can racks 7 The faucets contain customary spring-closing valves, which it is not necessary to illustrate in detail as the faucets are sufliciently repre- 5 sentative of the valves.

Each faucet is provided with a rock-shaft or spindle 12 connected 'with its Valve, the spindles being in line and having polygonal outer ends 13 designed to receive a separate 1 or detachable wrench handle 14, the wrench handle being either of the type that requires to be held open manually or of the type that is locked or caught in the open condition. In either event the presence of the wrench is 1 necessary for holding the self-closing valve open. In Fig. 1 the faucets are not manifolded, so that deliveries may be made therefrom directly into buckets or through hose to underground tanks.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the pipes 9, are connected immediately beyond the faucets or valves 11 by a manifold 15, which is continued by piping 16 across the lower rear portion of the tank truck to the inlet of a pump 17, by means of which liquid may be pumped out of any one of the compartments,

a discharge connection 18 being connected with the outlet of the pump and a quickacting gate valve 19 belng preferably provided between the pump and the discharge connection. A by-pass 20 containing a relief valve 21 may connect the inlet and outlet of the pump to prevent injury to the pump in event of the valve 19 being closed while the pump is in operation. The piping 16 may also be provided with a gravity drain connection 22 and an interposed quick-acting gate valve 23.

A rotary shaft 24 extends transversely of the outer portions of the parts 10 of the several outlet conduits adjacent the valves 11, this shaft being provided at one end with a hand wheel or handle 25 and being suitably journaled and held against longitudinal movement in bearing brackets 26 clamped to or formed with the pipes or pipe fittings.

Fixed to the shaft 24 are a row of shutters or discs 27, 28, 29, which are disposed to operate in planes immediately adjacent and lying across the polygonal ends 13 of the several faucet s indles 11. In the case illustrated it is su cient to employ incomplete discs or disc sectors. The form of the discs and their relative overlapping arrangement 55. suitable for the particular construction illustrated are shown in Figs. 4 to 10. In one position the disc 27 does not stand across the member 13 of the No.1 faucet or valve, but the discs 28 and 29 are across the corresponding members of No. 2 and No. 3 faucets. Consequently in this posiiton the No. 1 faucet or valve can be opened b application of the wrench handle, but anot er wrench can not be applied to either, the No. 2 or the No. 3

05 faucet. a second position the disc 27 is carried across the member 13 of the No. 1 faucet and the disc 29 still covers or obstructs the member 13 of No. 3 faucet, but an openpossible to open either the No. 1 or the No. 3

faucet. In a third position the disc 27 still obstructs the rece tor member of the No. 1 faucet, a solid portion of the disc 28 is brought across the receptor member of the No. 2

faucet, and the disc 29 has been moved to expose the receptor member of No. 3 faucet. In no position is it possible to open more than one of the faucets 01" valves at a time.

Limit stops 31 are provided to limit the shaft 24 and the discs 27, 28 and 29 to such portion of a revolution in either direction that it is im ossible to move the parts to a position in w ich more than one of the members 13 are exposed at the same time. Manifestly if the discs were suitably extended around the circle, such stops could be omitted. A spring 32 may be providedfor restoring the shutter or obstructor device to a definite position, for example the position in which the No. 1 faucet is accessible.

The several tank compartments, or their outlets, are preferably also provided with other self-closing or spring-closing valves 33,

preferably located within the lower portions of the compartments commanding the entrances to the outlets. These valves may be operated by a mechanism 34 of a lmown type.

- I claim:

1. In combination with a multi-compartment tank, outlet pi es from the several compartments, automatically closed valves in' the outer portions of said pipes adapted to be opened by a removable handle, and means preventing'the application of a handle to more than one of said valves at a time.

2. In combination with a multi-compartment tank, outlet pipes from the several compartments, a manifold connectin the outer portions of said pipes, automatically closed valves in the outer portions of said pipes adapted to be opened by a removable handle, and means preventing the application of a handle to more than one of said valves at a time.

3. In combination with a multi-compartment tank, automatically closed valves controlling the outflow from the several compartments, members operatively connected with said valves adapted to receive a detachable operating handle, and means obstructing the application of a handle to more than one of said members at a time.

4. In a multi-compartment tank, automatically closed valves controlling the outflow from the several compartments, members operatively connected with said valves adapted to be operated by separate operating means, and a movable set of obstructors disposed to intervene between said members and the operating means in such manner as to permlt opening of only one of said valves at a time.

5. In a multi-compartment tank, outlets from the several compartments, automatically closed valves controlling the several outlets, a manifold connecting said outlets beyond said valves, members operatively connected with said valves adapted to be operated by a detachable handle, and selective means comprising an interconnected set of shutters adapted to obstruct access to said members.

6. In a multi-comp'artment tank, outlets from the several compartments, automatical- 1y closed valves controlling the several outlets, a row of members operatively connected with said valves adapted to be operated by a detachable handle, a rotary shaft, and a row of shutters operable by said shaft and adapted to permit access to one only of said members at a time.

AUGUSTINE DAVIS, J R. 

